Snap-hook



No. s|a,9|2. Patented Feb. 7, I899 c. SMITH.

SNAP HOOK. (Appliution mod. m 27, 1898.)

(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

CLARENCE E. SMITH, OF NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE NORTH & .IUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

SNAP-HOOK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,912, dated February '7, 1899. Application filed May 27,1898- Serial No. 681,942. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE E. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Britain county of Hartford, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Snap-Hooks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to snap-hooks, and one object thereof is to improve the construction of the same so that the parts may be easily assembled and not be so liable to become clogged by dirt or displaced in use as in the common embodiment of such hooks.

Other advantages will appear from an inspection of my invention.

In the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 shows a top plan view. Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the hook shown in Fig. 1 before the spring is inserted. Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of Fig. 1. Fig. at shows a bottom plan view of Fig. 1.

In the above embodiment of my construction, A shows the shank of a hook, B the bill, and L an attaching means for a strap.

C is a recess in therear of the shank in which is located a spring K. In the usual construction of these hooks a recess is provided at this point; but it is usual to insert the spring from the top.

In the usual construction of hooks which are open on top dirt will accumulate on the spring and work down inside of the recess and thereby clog and impede the action of the spring; but in my construction this is to a great extent prevented.

In the above embodiment of my invention the recess C has a rear wall H and a face 1). Between the forward end of the face D and the shank is an opening F, through which extends the spring K. Lugs G G are provided, which after the spring has been inserted may be turned down into the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4 to hold the spring in place.

This construction of hook is exceedingly simple, maybe cast in one piece, and the spring maybe inserted from below, and the only manipulation necessary to fasten the same in place is a bending of the lugs G G.

The spring is protected from the entrance of 50 to throw this bend of the spring upward or to the left in Fig. 3, and when the end of the spring is pressed in to nearly touch the shank the spring will be supported practically at the end of its shorter arm alone. The whole length of the spring and its entire strength are therefore utilized in this construction.

I am aware that many modifications of the construction herein disclosed may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- In a snap-hook, a shank having a bill and a recess at the rear of said shank, an opening into said recess through the upper side thereof, said upper side forming retaining means, said shank having an extended and unobstructed opening through the lower side thereof adapted to permit the insertion from below of a curved spring, and a lug adapted to be turned over below said spring to partially close said opening in said lower side and retain said spring in place.

Signed at New Britain this 25th day of May, 1898.

CLARENCE E. SMITH.

Witnesses:

LUo1Us H. PRINDLE, NELsoN E. JUDD. 

